Project Officer: Tax & Benefits Access

Rideau-Rockcliffe-Community-Resource-Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group health benefits including family

RRSP contribution program

15 days vacation & holidays

Job summary

Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre in Ottawa is seeking a Project Officer: Tax & Benefits Access to expand our CVITP-driven tax clinic into a sustainable, year-round service. You will coordinate tax filings, benefits access, and partnerships to support residents with low income.

The role combines project coordination, community development, and financial empowerment, requiring strong volunteer management and collaboration with EBO partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in community development, business, finance, or a related field.
• Project or program management experience with multiple partners or stakeholders.
• Knowledge of CVITP, tax filing, or benefits access is an asset.
• Bilingual English/French communication is required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate tax filing and benefits access services year-round.
• Recruit, train and supervise volunteers, students and interns.
• Develop partnerships with educational institutions and community partners.
• Maintain accurate program data and report on outcomes.
• Coordinate offsite tax filing and benefits clinics and referrals.

Skills

Project coordination

Volunteer recruitment

Financial empowerment

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Community Support and Development Full Time / Temps plein Ottawa, ON $25.65 CAD per hour / 25,65 $ CAD par heure

Join Our Team at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre

We are currently seeking to hire for the following position:

• JOB TITLE
• Project Officer: Tax & Benefits Access
• EMPLOYMENT STATUS
• 35 hours per week – full-time, one-year contract with possibility of renewal
• STARTING DATE
• September 14, 2026
• LOCATION
• Rideau Community Hub (815 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa)
• $ 25.65, plus a comprehensive benefits package and RRSP contribution program.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1982, the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC) is a dynamic community-based organization dedicated to building a healthy, inclusive, and resilient community. Located in Ottawa's Ward 13, we provide a diverse range of programs and services that empower residents, strengthen community resilience, and promote social inclusion.

Our work includes food security initiatives, poverty reduction supports, crisis intervention, community development, children and youth programming, social enterprises, and the operation of a community social innovation hub. Supported by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and community leaders, RRCRC develops and delivers innovative programs that respond to emerging community needs and create meaningful opportunities for residents to thrive.

Recognized for its collaborative and forward-thinking approach, RRCRC is committed to creating lasting community impact. Guided by our strategic priorities of enhancing community capacity, strengthening sense of belonging, and increasing access to resources, we meet community members where they are, working alongside them to build on existing strengths, address barriers, and create pathways to opportunity, inclusion, and well-being.

Financial empowerment is an important part of RRCRC's poverty reduction work. Through tax filing, benefits access and related supports, we help community members access income, credits and benefits to which they are entitled, while reducing barriers that can prevent people from navigating complex financial and government systems.

THE ROLE

The Project Officer: Tax & Benefits Access plays a key role in advancing RRCRC's financial empowerment work by helping community members access tax filing services, benefits, credits and other income supports.

Building on RRCRC's established Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), the Project Officer will help expand our traditional tax clinic into a sustainable year-round service. This includes coordinating support for overdue tax filings, strengthening access to benefits and income supports, and developing community-based and offsite service delivery.

As part of RRCRC's Community Support & Development (CSD) team, the role combines project coordination, financial empowerment, partnership development and direct community service.

The Project Officer will recruit, train and support a team of volunteers, students and interns; coordinate service delivery and partnerships; track program outcomes; and work directly with community members, including people experiencing low income and barriers to financial security.

Working closely with EBO Financial Education Centre and other financial empowerment and financial literacy organizations, the Project Officer will contribute to a coordinated approach to tax filing and benefits access across Ottawa.

This is an opportunity for a resourceful and community-minded professional who brings strong project coordination skills and an interest in community economic development and financial empowerment, while being comfortable working directly and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

As part of RRCRC’s Community Support & Development (CSD) team, the Project Officer: Tax & Benefits Access is responsible for the coordination, delivery, development and continuous improvement of RRCRC’s tax filing and benefits access services.

Tax Filing & Benefits Access

• Maintain current knowledge of Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) requirements, information and procedures, and participate in training provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
• Coordinate year-round tax filing services, including support for overdue tax returns, as well as RRCRC’s larger seasonal tax clinic.
• Respond to community members by phone or email regarding tax filing and benefits access, including required documentation, appointments and follow-up.
• Verify community members’ documentation and support them in identifying and accessing relevant benefits, credits and income supports.
• Provide appropriate information and referrals where additional or specialized support is required.
• Coordinate and deliver offsite tax filing and benefits access services at community and partner locations.
• Ensure program information, forms and electronic and paper resources are accurate, up to date and accessible to community members and volunteers.
• Support financial literacy and financial empowerment activities that help community members better understand and access benefits, credits, income supports and other relevant financial resources.
• Recruit, train, onboard and support a team of volunteers, students and interns to deliver tax filing and benefits access services.
• Coordinate volunteer schedules and client appointments and provide onsite supervision, guidance and ongoing support during tax clinics and other service-delivery activities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with educational institutions, employment and placement organizations, and related academic programs to recruit and engage students, interns and volunteers, including individuals with backgrounds in accounting, finance, business and related fields.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with EBO Financial Education Centre and other community, financial literacy and financial empowerment organizations to coordinate services, strengthen referral pathways and expand access to tax filing, benefits and financial empowerment supports across Ottawa.
• Identify and develop opportunities for collaboration with private-sector, professional and other community partners interested in contributing expertise, volunteers, resources or other support to strengthen the program.
• Participate in EBO community of practice meetings, program meetings and other relevant learning and collaboration opportunities.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of RRCRC’s year-round tax filing and benefits access service.

Data, Evaluation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate program data and collect and report on key performance indicators, project activities and outcomes using EBO and RRCRC data collection and reporting tools.
• Ensure information regarding RRCRC’s tax and benefits access services is accurate and up to date in the Taxinics Navigation tool.
• Document financial challenges experienced by project participants and how program services contribute to addressing them.
• Participate in periodic follow-up and evaluation activities, including surveys conducted by EBO staff and program evaluators.
• Support the collection of participant feedback, success stories and other qualitative information for reporting, evaluation and continuous program improvement.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educational Background. Bachelor’s degree in community economic development, business administration, finance, accounting, project or program management, community development or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience, is required.
• Project & Program Experience. Experience coordinating or implementing projects or programs involving multiple activities, partners or stakeholders, including experience with performance measurement, tracking outcomes and key performance indicators.
• Financial Empowerment. Knowledge of or experience with income tax filing, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), benefits access, financial literacy, financial empowerment or related services is considered an asset.
• Benefits & Income Supports. Knowledge of federal, provincial and municipal benefits, credits, income supports and relevant community resources is considered an asset.
• Community Economic Development. Understanding of community economic development, financial empowerment and asset-building approaches.
• Partnership Development. Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, professional or private-sector partners, and other stakeholders is considered an asset.
• Volunteer & Student Engagement. Experience recruiting, coordinating, supervising or supporting volunteers, students or interns is considered an asset.
• Community Experience. Understanding of the barriers facing people experiencing low income and other forms of marginalization, with demonstrated ability to work respectfully, effectively and without judgment with people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Bilingual Communication. Ability to communicate effectively in both English and French, verbally and in writing, is required. Additional languages are considered an asset.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with community members, volunteers, students and partner organizations.
• Excellent project coordination, organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and follow through on commitments.
• Strong initiative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and identify opportunities to strengthen program delivery.
• Strong partnership-building and collaboration skills, with the ability to establish relationships, identify opportunities for collaboration and work effectively across community, educational, professional and private-sector settings.
• Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to contribute effectively in a multidisciplinary, community-based environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong digital skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and the ability to learn and work effectively with databases, online platforms and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and attention to privacy.
• Ability and willingness to:
• Collegiality – Be helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented.
• Initiative – Take ownership of work, do what is needed and follow through.
• Efficiency – Plan ahead, manage time well, be punctual, be cost-conscious and identify better ways of doing things.
• Continuous Learning – Be receptive to feedback, willing to learn and committed to continuous improvement.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Regular in-person presence at the Rideau Community Hub and community-based service locations.
• Ability to travel to RRCRC service locations, community sites and partner locations across Ottawa as required. A valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle are considered assets.
• Flexibility to work a variable schedule based on program needs, including occasional evenings and weekends.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Become part of a growing, dynamic team engaged in truly meaningful and rewarding work.
• Opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and expanded responsibilities within a growing and evolving community organization.
• 15 days of annual vacation & holiday closure & personal / sick days.
• Group health benefits including family coverage.
• Healthcare Spending account.
• RRSP contribution program.
• Free parking, and refreshments.

The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC) is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with intersectional identities. Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Please contact us in advance to discuss how we can meet your individual needs.

Please note that RRCRC does not use automated screening or artificial intelligence tools in the recruitment process.